Friends and Lovers
By Misha

Author's Notes- Okay, I know the last chapter was a little shocking, well things are about to get even better. I should warn you the next few chapters are going to be very dramatic and angst-ridden. A lot is going to happen. Though, you'll just have to wait and see what. That's all for now, enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-Three

Thursday, January 18th 2001

Shawn entered the house and to his surprise he found his mother comforting a crying Chloe.

"What's wrong?" He demanded. "Did Kiriakis do something to you?"

Chloe looked up at him, her blue eyes filled with tears. Wordlessly she shook her head.

"Shawn." His mother said quietly. "I think Chloe and I need to talk alone-"

"No!" Chloe interrupted. "He can stay. It's okay."

"Are you sure?" Hope asked.

Chloe nodded. "I need a friend right now."

Her words and the hopeless tone in which she spoke them, caused Shawn's heart to turn over. He could tell that something was seriously wrong.

Cautiously, he crossed the room until he was sitting down on the couch beside the two women. "What's wrong?" He asked gently.

Chloe turned to look at him, her face tear-stricken and her blue eyes watery. "I think I'm pregnant." She whispered.

The words were like a punch in the gut to him. Pregnant. That meant that she and Kiriakis... Shawn didn't know why it hurt so much. But it did. Nothing else had ever hurt him like this. Not even New Year's Eve...

No, he told himself, now is not the time to think about that.

He pushed the pain and jealousy away and took Chloe's hand in his own.

"Oh, Chloe." He told her softly. "Have you taken a test?"

She shook her head. "I know I should, but..."

"Honey, you have to." Hope broke in. "I know it's scary, but you have to know. I know, why don't I go down to the drugstore and get you one and then you can take it here. Alright?"

After a moment, Chloe nodded. "Okay."

Hope smiled gently. "Good." She turned to Shawn. "You'll stay with Chloe, right?"

Shawn nodded. "Of course."

Hope smiled and got up. "Okay, I should only be a few minutes."

Hope grabbed her coat and then left.

Shawn watched his mother go and then turned his attention back to Chloe. "Are you okay?" He asked her.

"No." She whispered. "I don't think I'll ever be okay again. I can't have a baby now, I can't."

Shawn wrapped an arm around her. He didn't know what to say. He wanted to tell her it would be okay, but he honestly didn't know if it would.

So he didn't say anything, he just held her in his arms and offered her what comfort he could.
* * * * *

Half an hour later, Chloe had taken the test. now all she had to do, was wait and see what the results were.

She closed her eyes, silently praying that it would be negative. Beside her, she felt Hope squeeze her hand in silent comfort.

Opening her eyes, she Looked down at the test and choked back it sob. It was positive. She was pregnant.

Oh, God. What was she going to do? She wasn't even seventeen yet, how could she look after a baby?

"What am I going to do?" She whispered.

"I don't know." Hope told her, taking her into her arms. "But you'll figure something out. You're strong Chloe, you'll make it."

Chloe didn't know what to say, so she just kept crying into the other woman's shoulder. Finally, she pulled away.

"I have to tell Phillip." She whispered. "But I don't know how."

"Just tell him, he'll listen and he'll support you. Phillip's a good boy and he loves you."

"I know." Chloe said. "But is love enough?"

"I don't know." Hope told her honestly. "I really don't. But you do have to tell him. Why don't you get Shawn to run you down there?"

After a moment, Chloe nodded. "Okay." She turned to Shawn, who was standing by the bathroom door. "Do you mind?"

Shawn shook his head. "Of course not. Give me a few minutes, to get ready, and then we'll go, okay?"

"Okay." Chloe whispered, wishing desperately that this wasn't happening. That anything but this was happening.

She just didn't know what she was going to do. It felt like her whole world was falling apart.
* * * * *

A few minutes later, they were in the car.

"Chloe, I'm sorry." He said quietly.

"So am I." She whispered. "I know a baby is a miracle of life, but... Right now, it doesn't feel like a miracle."

Shawn didn't know what to say. She looked so lost and alone.

"I don't know if this helps." He told her. "But I'll be there for you, I'll always be there for you."

Chloe smiled. "I know. You're my best friend. The best friend I've ever had. Shawn, I am sorry if I hurt you this year."

"I know." He told her. "And it wasn't your fault. You can't help how you feel, or how you don't feel. I know that."

"I know it doesn't change anything." She told him. "But I almost wish I had fallen in love with you."

"So do I." Shawn said sadly. "Chloe, I like Belle, I really do, but..."

"But what?" Chloe asked him.

"She's not you." Shawn admitted. "No one else is or ever will be."

"Oh, Shawn." Chloe whispered. "I really do wish that I had fallen in love with you when I had the chance, maybe then things would have been different. Maybe I wouldn't have been in this situation."

Before Shawn could sty anything, he became aware of the car coming right towards him. Desperately, he tried to swerve out of the way, but he was too late and he heard a crashing sound, then the world went black.
* * * * *